Igniter for gas burners



July-31, 1934.

o. J. LEINS 1,968,561

IGNITER FOR GAS BURNERS Filed March 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 777200260"; Ufa/ .1869026 Jul 31, 1934.

O. J. LEINS IGN ITER FOR GAS BURNERS Filed March 12, 1952 2 Sheets-She't2 QWXM wm l dflfgi means for separately andindependently adjustingPatented July 31, 1934 s: ims PATENT OFFICE 1,968,561 IGNITERlFOIt GASnUaN as 7 Oscar J'. Leins, Milwaukee, Wis; assignor to Milwaukee GasSpecialty Company; Milwaukee, I Wis.,a corporation of Wisconsin g jApplication March 12, 1932, Serial No. 598,319, 1': Claims. 01; 158-115)My invention relates to igniters for gas burners and contemplates an'improvement for furnishing ignition for both the top burners and theoven burnerof a gas range. l

Heretofore in theart considerable difiiculty has been "encountered inproviding ignition for the oven burner of a 'gas range.Attempts'havebeen made to employ gravity type lighters for this purpose,but such devices as "have been provided along this line have not beendependable. Other attempts have encountered difiiculty" in controllingeither thesize of the pilot or-the length: of the ignition flashes; f'My invention provides a lighter devicewh ich will furnish ignition forboth the top burners and the oven burner without difficulty incontrolling either the'size of the pilot flames or the length of theignition flashes.

My invention further provides a device which is simple in constructionand dependable in operation and in whichthe parts of the device maybeassembled in rare-correlated relation and installed as'a unit assembly.

1 The embodiment'of the invention selected for illustration comprises avalve housing having means for connection with the gas manifold of therange or with anyother suitable or-preferred source of fuel supply. O'nelighter tube extends from this housing and has-a tip in proximity to thetop burners, and a second lighter orignite'r tube extends from thishousing and has a tip in proximity to the oven burner. By-pass meansi's'provided in this housing for supplying thegas for maintaining asmall pilot flame at the tip of each lighter tube, and valve means ofthe type injwhich the valve elements are operated by manual depressionagainst springs are provided for eiifecting the flow of a considerablyincreased amount of gas to either lighter tube; forthe purpose ofprojecting the flame fromthe tip'or torch head at the outer end of onetube to the top burners and. from the tipor torch head at the outer endof the other tube to the oven burner. "The by-passes are preferablyprovided with the same for the purpose of separately and independentlyadjusting the small. pilot flame for the top burners and the small pilotname for the ably is provided with means I separating the increased gassupply for the top burner igniter from the increased gas supplyiortheoven burneroven burner, and the valve housing also preferindependently arranged to conform with. their respective requirements. e

The igniter device in its entirety and its' combination with the topburners, oven burner and gas manifold or other source of fuelsupply, isan important aspect of my invention; and the valve device and thecombination of the lighter tubes, valve members and by-passes therewithare further aspects of the invention.

The igniter of my present invention works satisfactorily with naturalgas, but it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is notlimited to use with any particular fuel, nor is it limited to use withthe particular burner arrangement illustrated and described.

Myinvention is illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of an ordinary type of gasrange, showing one embodi-- ment of my invention; v

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the pilot means shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the general construction ofthe valve means;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 ofFigure '4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing anotherembodiment ofmy valve control- 35 ling mechanismi V Figure 7 is afragmentary plan view showing in elevation the valve control mechanismshown in Figure 6; I V

' Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 ofFigure 7;

' Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 ofFigure 6; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 10- 10 ofFigure 2 with the adjacent tip and connected tube in elevation;

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, which illustrate one embodimentof my device, the-usual fuel supply pipe 11 is shown in connectiontherewith and has the manifold portion 12 which usually extends alongthe front of the range and is connected with the opentopburners 13.These top burners 13 areprovided with connected tubes 14 into which thenozzle pipes leading from the manifold 12 discharge, as well understoodin the art. Air is admitted to the outer ends of the tubes 14 at 15 andthe nozzle pipes are provided with the usual control valves 16. y l J Anoven17 is shown imposition to the right of the burners 13 and isseparated therefrom by the fold 12 has a cap 23 threaded over andclosing its end as shown.

Positioned centrally of the burner 13 is the customary torch head 24 forthe open or top burn: ers 13. This torch head comprises a protectinghood 25 positioned over the tip 24a threadedupon the upturned outer endof the lighter tube 26 which is connected at its opposite end to the gasmanifold 12 and supplies the pilot maintaining and flashing quantitiesof gas to the tip 24a.

The tip 24:; may be of the type suitable for use with ordinary watergas, ormay be ,of the relay pilot type with a. special casing and tipfor use with a natural gas supply. The tip shown isior natural gas andhas eight orifices 24b, one directed. toward each of the four burnerslB.with four additional orifices, one above .each of the first four mainorifices to insure ignition of the gas issuing from the main orificesand the return of the flames to the pilot tip so that they will burn ina unopilot;

Positioned below the tube or conduit 26 is a second conduit 27 whichis'bent as shown in the drawings and passes beneath the burner conduits14 and through the oven wall 18 intoappropriate proximity to the ovenburner 19. The tube 27 terminates in a tip 28, similar to the tip 24 except that it needs only a single outlet orifice 27a opening from the endof the tip and directed toward the oven burner 19. l The manifold 12 hasa tapped opening through its lower side as shown by reference numeral29, and the threaded'nipple 30 of the valve housing 31 is threadedthereinto. The valve housing 31 has threaded into'it the two lightertubes 26 and 27 leading to the open burner lighter tip 24 and ovenburner lighter tip 28, respectively. -A channel 32 in the valve housing3,1, is closed at one-end by a plug 33 threaded into the end thereof.The other 5 endof the channel 32 opens into an obliquely cut channel 34leading from the interior of the gas manifold 12. I

Valve openings 35 and 36- enter at right angles into the channel 32 andopen from the outer side of the valve housing 31. An outlet channel .37is formed as shown in the valve housing 31 and commun'icates by meansofchannels 38 and 39 with the outlets 40 and 41 into which are threadedthe tubes 26 and 27. Suitable blocking means, such as the plug 42, isdisposed between outlets 38and 39 to prevent communication.therebetween. A plug'43 closes the outer end of the channel 37.

The openings 35 and 36 are tapped and thread-- ed into these openingsare a pair of threaded sleeve members 44 and 45; The plunger members 47extend through the interior 46 of the sleeve members 44 and 45 andterminate in hemispherically-enlarged portions 48 adapted to haveseating engagement with the ends o-f-the sleeve members 44' and 36.

Each sleeve member 44 and 45 has an inwardly projecting annular flange51, which forms a guide for the plunger member 47, and a washer 52 isadapted to fit around the plunger and bear against this annular flange51, as best shown in Figure 3. A spring member 53 is positionedbetween-each washer or packing 52 and each button 49 for normallyholding the plunger in closed position as shown in Figure 3, and forpressing the washers or packing material at 52 tightly against theflange 51 and around the plunger 47 to seal, against gas leakage, theopening through which the plunger projects.

A by-pass 54 leads from the opening 35 to the channel 37 on one side ofthe block 42 and a similar by pass leads from the opening 36 to thechannel 37 on the opposite side of the block 42 for maintainingthe-restricted pilot fiame at the tip 28 of the oven lighter. Theseby-pass arrangements are identical so that a description of oneinconnection with Figure 5 will suflice for both. The by-pass passagehas an enlarged portion,55,'which is-adapted to be threaded interiorlyto receive an adjusting screw 56. The adjusting screw 56. has a taperedend adapted to limit the effective areaof the by-pass 54. The screw 56is provided with a slotted head 57 for adjusting thescrew into properposition. It is understood that one by-pass places the manifold 12 inrestricted communication with the tube 26 and around one valve 48 andthat the other by-pass places the manifold in'restricted communicationwith the tube 27 around the other valve 48, manipulation of one screw 57adjusting the size of the pilot flame maintained at the tip 24a andmanipulation of the other screw 57 adjusting the sizeof the pilot flamemaintained at the tip 28.

With the parts installed as shown the by-pass around the valve 48 forthe tube 26 provides a flow of fuel sufiicientto maintain a relativelyrestricted pilot flame at the tip 24a, and the restrictedbypassaroundthe valve 48 for the tube 27 provides a restricted flow offuel for maintaining a restricted pilot flame at the tip 28 .of the ovenlighter. When a top burner 13 is to be ignited, its gas cook 16 isopened and the button 49 for the valve associated with the tube 26 isdepressed to admit the flow of a greatly increased quantity of gasthrough the passage. 34, the interior of the sleeve 44 and out throughport. 44a and through passage 37 to the tube 26. This causes the pilotflames at 100 to be projected radially outwardly, through the openings101 in the hood 25, far enough to ignite the particular burner 13 towhich gas has been admitted- 7 Similarly the by-pass around the valve 48101 the tube 27-permits the flow of a relatively restricted quantity ofgas around the closed valve 48and to the tube 27 for the purpose ofmaintaining the relatively restricted pilot flame at the tip 28 of theoven lighter. When the burner 19 is to be ignited, its gas cock 22 isopened and the button 49 forthe valve for the tube 27 is depressed toadmit the fiow of the greatly increased quantity of gas from the passage32 through the inner end of the sleeve 45 and through the port 45aopening laterally from this sleeve into; the passage 37 and to the tube27. This causes the pilot flame at the tip 28 to be projected at 102 farenough to ignite the-oven burner 19 to which integral or constituting aunitaryasseinblywith the top burnerignition arrangement,'-.the"respective parts may be combined in pre-correlated relation anddistributed and installed in unitary assembled relation simply,expeditiouslyrand with a minimum of alteration in'existing equipment.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9,inclusivethefmain distinction betweenthis embodiment and that shown: inFigures 1' to 5 isfthe horizontal positioning of the valve housing. Thevalve housing 31 "of Figurei 2 :is adapted to extend verticallydownwardly from the gas manifold 12. 'Intthe embodiment-shown.

in Figures 6 to 9, the valve housing member 60 is adapted to extendhorizontallyparallel to the? gas:

manifold 12. This valve can also bei'designated as a twin valve,inasmuchastit' supplies *theftwo lighters previously described.'JAsshow'n in Fig ure 6, thepilot lighter for the top burners 13.0f theoven is indicated at 24', thispilotlighter being surmountedby a hood25". 'A gas conduit 26 leads from thefvalve 60 to thetip of the lighter.

24'; The oven pilot lighter 28' has a conduit 27. leading from thevalve, body 60 to the tip of the lighter 28' and connected theretoandentering the valve 60. The twoinletopenings-Gl and 62, associatedwith the. conduitmembers 26- and 2'7, open into two correspondingoutletch'annels 63 and 64 disposed longitudinally in the valve body 60.These two channels are preferably closed-at their ends by means ofsuitable plugs 65 secured therein. 2 I ,.J-

A nipple member 66 is provided for connecting the valve bodyf60 to thegas manifold 12-. As shown in Figure 9, this nipple is threaded into anopening 67 in gas manifold 12 and into a tapped inlet opening 68 in thevalve body 60.. vThenipple 66 is provided with a hexagonal flange 69-forpermitting it to be tightly threaded into place. i The nipple 66 isprovided with a central longitudinal inlet opening '70 extendingtherethrough and providing communication between the inlet port 68 ofthe valve body 60 and the interior of the gas manifold 12.

An inlet channel '71, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, is formed inthe valve body 60 and preferably is sealed at its end by means of abushing member 72 (Figure 6). Tapped openings 73 communicate betweeninlet channel '71 and outlet channels 63 and 64. Sleeve members '74, asshown in Figure 6, are threaded into the openings '73, and are providedwith cooperating ports '75 for communicating with the outlet channels 63and 64. The sleeve members '74 are provided with hexagonal heads '76 fortightly threading them into position. A recess '76, as shown in Figure6, is provided in the sleeve members 74, and terminates in an inwardlyprojecting annular flange '77, adapted to serve as a guide for a plungermember '78 mounted in the sleeve members '74. Each plunger member '78 isprovided at its inner end with an enlarged head '79 adapted to seat onthe end of the sleeve member '74 for closing the same against passage ofthe lighter flashing supply of gas therethrough. The outer ends of theplunger members '78 are threaded for receiving control buttons adaptedto be secured thereon.

Mounted within the recess in the sleeve members '74 is a spring 81adapted to normally hold the enlarged head '79 of the plunger members'78 in closed position against the inner end of the sleeve members '74.A washer or packing 82 is provided for restraining the other end of thisspring and forsealing the opening through which the correspondingplunger '78 passes. l l Aby-pass passage 83, as shown in Figure 8,isprovided between the inlet channel r71 and each outlet channel 63 and64. Each of these by-pass passages hasan'enlarged end 84 for receiving athreaded adjusting screw 85. The adjusting screw is tapered at its innerportion for the purpose of limiting the effective area of the byI-pass83, and is provided with atslotted head 86 for adjustment thereof. Bycontrolling the position ofthe'adjusting screw 85, it is possible todetermine the flow.:of gas from the gas manifold 12 through the port '70in the connecting nipple .66 andrthrough the inlet opening '71 to theoutlet openings or channels 63 and64 for the proper operation of thepilots 24 and 28.. The plunger means '78 are adapted tobe depressed whenit is desired'to cause'flashing of either of the pilots24 or 28 theenlarged. head '79 of theseplunger members being pushed away from theseat at the inner end of the sleeve member '74 and permitting. gas topass from the inlet channel '71 to the out.- letchannels 63 and 64 andthence through the conduits 26' and 27 to the torch head to project thelighting flames from the respective torch heads as described inconnection with the pre-..

ceding embodiment. It can readily be seen that I have thus provided arugged and simple valve body construc-. tion which permits separatecontrol of either or any of a plurality of pilot torch heads, and whichis adapted to be mounted upon any type of gas, stove. Also, I haveillustrated a valve body which can bemounted either horizontally orvertically, depending upon the situation of the gas manifold and'theamount of space that is provided.

I I do not intend to be limited to the exact details shown anddescribed, but only insofar as defined by the spirit and scope of theappended claims. r

1 1. The combination with a. plurality of. top, burners, an oven burnerand a gas manifold, of a valve housing having means for connection withsaid manifold, a first lighter tube extending from said housing andhaving a tip in proximity to the top burners, a second lighter tubeextending from said housing independently of the extension of said firstlighter tube from said housing and having a tip in proximity to the ovenburner, said housing having inlet passage means communicating with saidgas manifold and separate outlet passages for separately connecting thefirst and second lighter tubes to said inlet passage means, andseparately operated fiash valve members mounted in said valve housingfor separately placing the outlet passages in communication with saidinlet passage means to cause increased supplies of gas to said lightertubes.

2. The combination with a plurality of top burners, an oven burner and agas manifold, of a valve housing having means for connection with saidmanifold, a first lighter tube extending from said housing and having atip in proximity to the top burners, a second lighter tube extendingfrom said housing independently of the extension of said first lightertube from said housing and having a tip in proximity to the oven burner,said housing having inlet passage means communicating with said gasmanifold and separate outlet passages for separately connecting thefirst and second lighter tubes to said inlet passage means, separatelyoperated flash valve members mounted in said .valve housing forseparately ret placing ':the outlet. "passages: in communication withsaid inlet passage-means to cause increased supplies of gas tosaidlighter tubessaid housing having means-permitting a, restricted supplyof gas around. one of saidvalve members and to oneof said lighter tubes;and separate means for permitting a restricted supply of gas around theother :valve member and to the other lighter tube. 3; The-combination,with a plurality of top burners, an'oven burner and a gas-manifold, ofa; valve housing having means for connection with said manifold, a firstlighter tube extending from said housing and having a-tip in proximityto thestop burners, a second lighter tube extending from said housingindependently of the extenew sion. of said first lighter tube from saidhousing and having a tip inv proximity to the oven burner, said housinghaving inlet passage means communicating with said gas manifold andseparate outlet passages for separately connecting the first and secondlighter tubes to said inlet passage means, separately operated flashvalve members mounted in said valve housingfor separately placing theoutlet passages in communication with said'inlettpassage means to causeincreased supplies of gas to said lighter tubes, said housing havingby-pass means permitting a restricted supply of gas around one of saidvalve members and ,to one of said lighter tubes, separate by-passm'eans-"forpermitting a restricted supply ofv gas around the other valvemember and to the other lighter'tube, and means for independentlyadjusting said by-pass means.

4'. A valve: housing having an inlet port, a plurality of outlet ports,a plurality of openings in communicationwith said inlet port, each ofsaid openings being adapted for communication with its respective outletport, plungervalve means positioned in-each of said openings and adaptedto control communication between said inlet port and the respectiveoutlet ports, a plurality of by-passes, one around each of said valvesand one leading from said inlet port to each of said outlet ports, andadjusting means 'for regulating the efiectiveareas of said by-passes. wi 5, In-combinatiomin a valve, a 'valve'body, an inlet channel-extendingtherein, anoutlet. channel in said'body, said body having a plurality ofoutlet openings leading into said outlet chan-' nel,. a plurality ofcontrol openings tapped between said inlet and outlet channels, saidcon'-., trol openings corresponding to and associated with said outletopenings, flow control means positioned in said control openings, "aplurality of by-passes leading from said inlet to said outlet channelscorresponding to and associated with said control openings, andadjusting means for limiting the efiec'tive area of said lay-passes, 6;In combination, in a valve, a valve body, an inletchannel extendingtherein, an outlet channellin said body extending longitudinallythereof, said valve body having an outlet opening tapped into saidoutlet channel and a control opening tapped between said inlet and out-.let channels, a second outlet opening tapped into said outlet channel,means positioned in said channel forlblocking connection between saidoutlet openings, an associated control opening for said second outletopening, flow control means positioned in said control openings forcontrol-. ling the flow of fuel through said openings, and separaterestricted by-passes between said inlet channel and said outletopenings.

7; 'In' combination, a gas manifold, a unitary valve housing having aninlet port directly connected-to said manifold, 'a plurality of separateoutlet ports for said housing, said housing having separate openingsleading from said inlet port to each ofsaid outlet ports, anindividually operable valve member disposed in each of said openings forcontrolling communication between said inlet port and each of saidoutlet ports, and separate restricted by-passes between said inlet portand each of said outlet ports. 1

OSCAR} J. LEINS.

